Window or door construction

ABSTRACT

A wall or other support has an opening in which one or more frameless glass panes of a window or door are located. The panes are secured to the adjacent support by hinges which are adjustable so as to permit adjustment of the pane or panes within the opening, and which have a portion directly connected with the respective pane, as by welding or bonding. Suitable latches or similar securing means are also provided, and at least one component of such latch or securing means is also directly connected to the respective pane or panes.

mted States atent 1 1 [111 3, 91,074

aiienschmidt [451 1974 [54] WINDOW OR DOOR CONSTRUCTION 2,761,183 9/1956Renno 49/144 X [7 Inventor Franz waflenschmidt 3,357,136 l2/l967Marantier 49/392 waffenschmidt tra 2, C l FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS ermany 245,612 3/1926 Italy 16/132 22 F1 d: l 27 1 71 1 leJu y 9 Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell PP 176,362 Attorney, Agent, orFirmMichael S. Striker [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57]ABSTRACT July 29, 1970 Germany 2037517 A Wall or other pp rt has anOpening in which one or more frameless glass panes of a window or doorare 52 us. (:1. 49/399, 16/132 leeated- The Panes are seemed to theedieeeht P- 51 Int. (:1 E0511 7/04 P by hinges Whieh are adjustable S03810 P [58] Field of Search 49/381, 397, 379, 382, 399, iustmem of the Por Panes Within the evening, and

49/144; 16/128 1 351/153 which have a portion directly connected withthe respective pane, as by welding or bonding. Suitable [56] ReferencesCited latches or similar securing means are also provided, UNITED STATESPATENTS and at least one component of such latch or securing 230 1657/1880 B 16/129 means is also directly connected to the respective arnes1,534,758 4/1925 Bartholomew 16/129 pane or panes 2,581,104 1/1952Houlsby 16/129 18 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures SWLDYA PMEMED FEB I 2'974mm 1 BF 3 INVENTOR PATENTEUFJEB 1 21974 WET E [If 3 PATENTEU FEB 1 2mmWINDOW OR DOOR CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates generally to window or door constructions, and moreparticularly to window or door constructions wherein the panes are notprovided with frames.

Frameless windows are already known, for instance from motor vehicles.Thus, the small vent window of many motor vehicles are simply in form ofa glass pane without a frame, and which is provided at certain pointswith bores through which suitable connectors are passed which are thenengaged with the frame of the surrounding door. These connectors orhinges, about which the pane may be pivoted, are rigid. Latching devicesare also provided which are mounted directly on the pane also, again viathe aid of suitable bores provided in the pane, and which cooperate withsuitable cooperating abutment portions on the surrounding door. In theseconstructions it is not possible to provide for any adjustment in theposition of the pane in order to compensate for manufacturingtolerances, nor is there any possibility of compensating for stresseswhich may develop as a result of differential thermal expansion andcontraction of the pane and the surrounding material of the door.

However, frameless windows are by no means exclusive to the motorvehicle art. Thus, the prior art also contains proposals for providingframeless windows or doors for buildings. These, however, are alsoprovided with hinges which do not permit any adjustment or compensationpossibilities. This is of course particularly disadvantageous in windowsand doors-or rather panes of such windows and doorsused in buildingsbecause the dimensioms of such panes are much larger than those in motorvehicles, and consequently stresses which may develop in these panes arelikely to cause correspondingly graver difficulties. Consequently, andin order to avoid such problems, the prior art providesin so far as theuse of frameless window and door panes in buildings is concerned-thatmore or less wide air gaps be left between the edges of the panes andthe surrounding portions of the building structure bounding the openingin which the pane or panes is arranged. As a result the prior-artframeless doors and windows cannot best be used in the interior ofbuildings but not as exterior windows or doors. Moreover, it is notpossible to so modify these prior-art constructions that the panes willtightly engage the surrounding material of the building, thus makingthem suitable for use at the outer sides of a building, because thiswould bring with it the danger of destruction of the panes resultingfrom stresses caused by differential thermal expansion and contractionof the panes on the one hand and the surrounding material of thebuilding on the other hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, a general object of thepresent invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly it is a general object of the present invention toprovide an improved frameless window and/or door construction which isnot possessed of the aforementioned disadvantages.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such an improvedconstruction in which reliable sealing In pursuance of the aboveobjects, and of others which will become apparent hereafter, one featureof the invention resides, briefly stated, in a structure of thecharacter here described which comprises support means having anopening, at least one pane in this opening, and mounting means mountingthe pane to the support means for displacement with reference to theopening. The mounting means comprises at least one unit having a firstsection mounted directly on the pane, a second section mounted on thesupport means and connected with the first section for relativedisplacement, and adjusting means for positional adjustment of at leastone of the sections.

In this manner the pane or panes can be adjusted with reference to theopening and the support means in order to compensate for existingproblems, for instance for manufacturing tolerances, and on the otherhand the pane or panes can move to a limited extent even when in aposition closing the opening, for instance if thermal expansion orcontraction should occur, without thereby incurring the development ofstresses and the possibility of destruction.

It is particularly advantageous according to a concept of the inventionto provide the section of the unit which is to be directly connectedwith the pane or panes with a large-area contact face which isadhesively bonded or welded to one side of the pane. Furthermore,latching units can also be provided for latching the pane in positionwith respect to the support means, and can similarly have large-areacontact faces which are adhesively bonded or welded to one side of thepane. The pane, incidentally, can of course be glass in the usualmanner, but it could also for instance be a panel of a suitablesynthetic plastic material. The adhesive bonding or welding directly tothe pane provides for a particularly simple manner of connection whichis especially sutiable for multilayer or insulating glass or safetyglass which is bonded, and all of which can be bored or provided withapertures for mechanical connections only with great difficulty andexpense, which are avoided by the present invention.

Advantageously the adjusting means may be in form of a spring element,particularly when adjustment in vertical direction is desired, which isslipped over a hinge pin provided on one of the sections so as to belocated between the hinge pin and the sleeve which surrounds the hingepin, and is provided on the other section. In this manner the sleeve andhinge pin have the possibility of relative movement with reference toone another, usually in vertical direction because the hinge pin isusually vertically oriented.

It is also possible, according to a further concept of the invention, touse in place of the spring element cylindrical elastomeric elements, forinstance of rubber or synthetic plastic, located between the respectivehinge pin and the associated sleeve in such a manner that the twosections which are respectively provided with the hinge pin and thesleeve have freedom of limited displacement both in vertical and intransverse direction.

Further adjustment possibilities are obtained if, according to anotherconcept of the invention, the second section of the single or severalunits which is connected with the support means, is provided with anarrangement making it possible to displace it with reference to thesupport means (which may include a sash frame mounted on a wall providedwith the opening) in all directions in a vertical and/or horizontalplane. In other words, such an arrangement permits displacement oradjustment in a plurality of mutually inclined directions. For thispurpose the second section may be provided with a slot-like openingthrough which a treaded connector is passed into the support means, orthe second section may be provided with an opening whose cross-sectionalarea is substantially larger than that of the threaded connector so thatdisplacement of the second section with reference to the threadedconnector is readily possible.

It is, however, also possible to provide adjustment and displacementarrangements which are operated not mechanically as previouslydiscussed, but which are operated hydraulically, pneumatically or bymeans of a suitable motor. This is particularly advantageous in the caseof panels (for windows or doors) which must be of large area or whichare required to be very easily operated or which must provide aparticularly good seal with respect to the surrounding support means, oragain which meet any combination of these factors. Such arrangements arecommercially available, that is hydraulically or pneumatically operatedunits or'motor-driven units for this purpose can be readily purchasedand they can, in fact, be of type which permits remote control of therespective pane or panes.

A further concept of the invention provides for the circumferentialmargin of the pane or panes, particularly the bottom marginal portion,to be provided with an elastic sealing lip which when the pane is inclosure position closing the associated opening, will abut against anabutment profile of the support means. Furthermore, a rain deflector orwater deflector may also be arranged adjacent the sealing lip,preferably being welded or adhesively bonded to the pane.

In addition, the invention provides for a possibility of providing thesupport means beneath the lower end of the pane with an opening throughwhich water, such as rain water or condensate, can run off and which isclosed at the exterior side of the support means by a readily flexibleseal element connected to the pane.

In so far as a latching device is concerned, it may be secured directlyto the pane itself and may for instance be in form of a turnable knobwhich displaces a bolt longitudinally slidable of itself, via aneccentric provided on the knob, and which bolt may enter into and beretracted from a slot (a single one or any one of a plurality of suchslots) provided in the adjacent support means, or in a suitablecomponent of the latching device which is secured to the support means.Such a latching device may not only be used for maintaining the pane inclosed position, but also it can be of such type as to permitmaintaining the pane in any one of several partially opened positions,that is to maintain it in a desired angular position. Thus, relativelysimple means suffice for maintaining the pane in any one of a pluralityof different opening positions as well as for fixing it in closedposition.

Finally, such latching means may also be in form of a turning latch ofsuch type as to permit pivoting of the pane upon either one or bothvertical side edges thereof and/or the horizontal lower edge, and onlyplate-shaped portions of the latching device are secured directly on thepane by welding or bonding, whereas the other components are secured onthe support means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevation showing oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view, on an enlarged scale,showing a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a further embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary detail view through the lower end portion of afurther embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating an additional embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary partially sectioned detail view, on an enlargedscale, illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line IX-IX of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of a further embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 12 is a section on line XIIXII of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of still an additional embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but of a different embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14, but showing yet anotherembodiment;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15, showing still a differentembodiment; and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary detail view illustrative of yet a furtherembodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing indetail, and firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, it willbe seen that in this embodiment I have shown a frameless window, that isa window in which the window pane is not provided with a frame althoughthe surrounding support means (such as a wall) may of course be providedwith a sash frame. The window pane is here identified with referencenumeral 1 and may be of glass or of a synthetic plastic material,closing a window opening 2 provided in a wall 7 which in turn isprovided with a sash frame 3. The sash frame 3 can be part of the wall 7itself, for instance in form of a prefabricated component which is madean integral part of the wall during construction of the latter.

Hinges 4 and 5 are provided of which sections are directly mounted onthe pane 1 itself, by means of adhesive bonding or welding. At the sideor edge of the pane 1 which is opposite the location of the hinges 4 and5, the pane l is provided with a latch 6 which is secured in the samemanner as the hinges 4 and 5 and whose construction will be discussed inmore detail subsequently.

In'FIG. 2 I have illustrated in a longitudinal section and on anenlarged scale the construction of the hinge 5 shown in FIG. 1, it beingunderstood that the hinge 4 is constructed in a similar manner. Thehinge 5 has a relatively large-area portion 5a a contact surface ofwhich is directly adhesively bonded or welded to one side of the windowpane 1. The portion 5a is connected with a sleeve 50 via a connectingportion 5b. The hinge 5 further comprises a second section having ahinge pin 5d which is connected with an angular portion having ahorizontal arm 5e and a vertical arm 5f. An adjusting device in form ofa double-dished spring 5g is placed onto the hinge pin 5d so as to belocated between the arm 52 and the sleeve 50, respectively, wherebyvertical adjustment for the sections of the hinge 5 is provided.

A threaded connector 5h, if desired provided with an expansion anchor 5cwhich can also be omitted if not needed, is connected directly with thewall '7 or with the sash frame 3; it extends through an opening 5fprovided in the vertical 5f, and this opening may be either slot-shapedor at least have a cross-sectional area which is substantially greaterthan that of the connector 5h, so as to permit displacement of the arm5f with reference to the connector. If the opening 5f is slotshaped itis advantageous that it be elongated in direction normal to the plane ofthe Figure in order to permit a corresponding displacement andadjustment during the installation of the window.

It is also possible to connect the section having the hinge pin to thesupport means directly via the arm 5e, and in many cases it may beadvantageous and possible to so connect the arm 5f that it is secured tothe support means in a position 90 displaced with reference to the oneshown in FIG. 2, that is so that it will be located in a plane which isin parallel with the plane of the Figure.

In FIG. 3 I have shown a further embodiment of an adjustable hinge. Herethe panel is identified with reference numeral 8 and has bonded orwelded to it a plateshaped section 9 which carries a cylindrical bushing10 having in turn an internal bushing 11, so that these bushings can beturned with reference to one another but with an axial-i.e.,vertical-displacement of the bushings relative to one another beingprevented. A cylindrical elastomeric element 12 of rubber or syntheticplastic material connects the bushing 11 with the hinge pin 13 which isconnected to an angular support 14 via the angled portion 13a. Theangular support 14 is provided with an opening 14a whose cross-sectionalarea is substantially larger than that of the screw 18, so that when thelatter is released any desired adjustment, p0.- sitioning andre-securing in a plane normal to that of the drawing is possible. Ofcourse, such adjustment will be within the limits dictated by thedimensions of the opening. The member 14 is secured to the surroundingsupport means 17 by means of a screw and an expansion anchor 16, or inother suitable manner. However, welding or other means of affixing arealso possible, depending on the materials and other circumstancesinvolved.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 I have shown a detail illustrating how arain-deflecting element 20 is connected to the outer side, that is theoutwardly directed surface of a pane 19, upwardly spaced from the loweredge thereof. Thus, rain will run off and drip off this member 20. Asealing lip 21 is provided a portion 210 of which sealingly contacts thepane 19 and which is secured on an abutment profile 22a of a sash 22with frame 23 or on another part of the support means. An opening 22bfor run-off of condensate is covered by a readily bendable lip seal. Theseal 21 with the portion 21b can of course also be directly bonded orotherwise secured to the outer side of the pane in the region of thelower edge portion thereof, and such a construction would permit afurther simplification of the sash frame itself. The elements 21 and 25of FIGS. 4 and 5 could also be combined, particularly for compensatingfor unevennesses where larger surface areas are concerned.

FIG. 5 is similarly to FIG. 4 but shows an embodiment in which a sealingelement 25 is differently configurated from the embodiment in FIG. 4,being bonded adhesively to the lower edge portion of the pane 24. Ahollow profiled portion 25a of the member 25, with longitudinallyextending channel 25b, can yieldably in readily deformable manner engagethe edge of an abutment 26 which will be provided on the non-illustratedsupport means.

In FIG. 6 I have illustrated in a simplified view a further embodimentof the invention, having a glass pane 28 which is located in an openingof a wall or similar support means, if desired with the provision of asash frame 27 on the support means. In this embodiment the left edgeportion of the pane 28 is provided with two hinges 29 and 30 and thelower or bottom edge portion is provided with two further hinges 50 and51. Those portions of the hinges which cooperate with the pane aredirectly bonded or welded to the latter, as discussed above with respectto FIG. 1, and the hinges themselves may be constructed in accordancewith the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 to permit-the desired adjustment.

The portions of the hinges which project ouwardly beyond the pane areprovided with cylindrical portions 29a, 30a which accommodate hinge pins33, 34 as well as 48 and 49. Members 35 and 36 as well as 46 and 47 areconnected with longitudinally displaceable rods .37 and 43 whichthemselves are held in guides 38 and 39 and 44 and 45. These rods areheld and guided at their end portions by means of bolts 37a, 43a inslotted openings 40a, 40b of a unit 40 having a bell crank 41, 42 oroperating handle, in such a manner that depending on the position of thebell crank or handle 42 only the two lower hinges 50 and 51 or thelaterial hinges 29 and 30, or all hinges are in engagement. In otherwords, the support-means mounted sections and the panemounted sectionsof only the hinges 29 and 311 may be in engagement in which case thepane can be pivoted about an upright axis, the support means-mounted andthe pane-mounted sections of only the hinges 50 and 51 may be inengagement so that the pane can be pivoted about a horizontal axis, orall hinges may be in engagement so that the panel cannot be pivoted atall. The latching arrangement 31 corresponds to that discussed withrespect to FIG. 1 and identified therein with reference numeral 6. Asuitable unit 32 may also be provided at the upper end portion of thepane 28, constructed and operative in such a manner that is will holdthe pane if the latter is pivoted about a horizontal axis by means ofthe hinges 50 and 51, but will permit the swinging movement of the paneif the latter is pivoted about an upright axis defined by the hinges 29and 30. This arrangement of the four hinges, permitting the movement ofthe pane alternately about a horizontal or a vertical axis, and theoperation and construction of the unit 32, are all known per se.

It is also possible to provide in the region of the righthand verticaledge of the pane 28 additional hinges (not shown) in which case thearrangement will be such that the support-means mounted and thepanemounted sections of all three sets of hinges will be engaged so thatthe pane cannot be moved, or else that the pane can be pivoted eitherabout a horizontal axis, a vertical axis along the left-hand sidevertical edge portion or a vertical axis along the right-hand sidevertical edge portion. This makes it possible to open the panel eithertowards the right-hand or towards the lefthand, or to pivot it about ahorizontal axis.

Coming, finally, to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7-9, it will beseen that herein I have disclosed a particularly advantageous embodimentof a latching arrangement utilizing a turning knob 55 which is connectedon the pane 52 by means of bonding or welding via a plate portion 54.The pane 52 itself abuts against a projection 53 of a sash frame 53, ifdesired via the interposition of sealing elements. FIGS. 8 and 9 showthat the knob 55 is turnably mounted on an angular member 59 via a shaftportion 55a and a plate or retaining portion 55b on an angular element59 which in turn is fixed to the plate portion 54. The element 59 isprovided with a substantially U-shaped guide for a sliding bar 56 whichat the upper edge is retained in a further U- shaped guide 60a of aguide rail 60. The bar 56 is provided with a longitudinal slot 56a intowhich a bolt 55c engages which in turn is eccentrically connected to theknob 55. It will be seen (compare FIG. 8) that when the knob 55 isturned in clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow, the bar 56 willbe displaced towards the right-hand side. This means that if theconstruction is such as is shown in more detail in FIG. 7, wherein acomponent 57 having a plurality of slots 58 is mounted on the frame 53(which latter can of course be omitted and the mounting can take placedirectly on the wall or other support means) the leading portion of thebar 56 can be made to enter into any desired one of the slotted openings58, depending upon the angle at which the pane is to be arrested.

Clearly, the various components which are to be directly mounted on thepane can be secured thereto in other ways than by bonding or welding.Clamping is a possibility and welded or bonded portions may beinterposed between the pane and the respective component and the thingbe clamped together if desired, for instance with the use of U-profiledelements, but also screws, rivets or the like can be used.

It is clear that the invention can be used not only with single windowsby way of which it has been illustrated for the sake of explanation, butalso in double windows, in sliding windows, pivoting windows, in windowswhich can be raised or lowered, as well as in doors having one or morepanes which, in the latter case, may be suitably connected with oneanother.

Also, other means than those illustrated can be used for effecting thevarious desired adjustments, for instance eccentric devices, kardanicdevices, and the like. This is particularly true as an alternative withrespect to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3. Also, re-

mote control can be effected, particularly if the panes are very largeand/or heavy, and in this case automatically operating adjusting andpositioning means may be provided in such a manner that when the paneundergoes a certain amount of displacement and/or expansion due tothermal influences, an electrical contact is engaged by it which via asuitable control device provides a requisite differential adjustment inits positioning via pneumatic, hydraulic or motor-driven devices.Suitable rack and pinion means instead of an eccentric bolt can beutilized in such a context, and all of these possibilities can useelements and components which are known per se in the art.

Where FIG. 7 shows that an adjustment in the opening angle of the paneis possible, with several opening angles being predetermined by theprovision of the slotted openings 58, it is also possible to provide fora continuous adjustment in the opening angle, for instance by usingsuitable clamping arrangemants or the like. Thedouble-dished springshown in FIG. 2 can also be replaced with a spiral spring or anothersuitable spring element, if desired.

It has been found, in particular, that mounting and latching componentscan be most reliably and permanently directly secured to a glass pane(i.e. without the customary frame) if and when the differentialcoefficients of thermal expansion and contraction of the pane and thevarious components mounted thereon, can be compensated. Such expansioncan be the result of sunlight or other sources of thermal energy andshould, according to the invention, be compensated. On the other hand,it is also important that shear forces-acting parallel to the generalplane of the samebe absorbed or transmitted between the pane and thecomponents mounted thereon. The following embodiments are directed tothese concepts.

Thus, FIG. 10, shows in a somewhat diagrammatic view an embodimentwherein the pane 61 has secured thereto a hinge component 63. interposedbetween them is an elastic tension compensating element 64 here and inall subsequent embodiments composed of a suitable elastomer such asrubber or plastic, which may be secured to pane 61 by means of a(nonillustrated) thin layer of a suitable bonding agent.

The surface area of element 64 is larger than that of portion 62 of thecomponent 63, to assure that element 64 will surround and projectoutwardly beyond all edges of the portion 62. FIG. 10 also shows thatthe thickness of element 64 decreases from its middle outwardly towardits edges, preferably stepwise as shown in which case steps or ribs 64amay be formed. The middle portion of element 64 may in fact be so thickthat the portion 62 can be partly or completely embedded in it, as shownin FIG. 10.

Shear forces which develop in this embodiment and act in parallelismwith the general plane of the pane 61, decrease in direction towards theedges or margins of element 64, due to the configuration of the latter,whereby separation of the element 64 at its margins from pane 61 isprevented and reliable mounting of component 63 assured.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, I have shown an embodiment in which two or more(three illustrated) elastic compensating elements 66 are secured (e.g.bonded) to the glass pane 65 at spaced locations. A guide rail 67 isfixedly connected to elements 66 and slidably carries a movable rail 68,the purpose being to increase the range of relative movement betweenpane and hinge and/or latching components (not shown) which can besecured in suitable manner to rail 68 in such a manner that the majorforces will act transversely to the direction of displacement of rail68. The term major forces is intended to designate for instance theweight of the pane 65, or the force required for opening a door orwindow provided with this pane.

The embodiment of FIG. 13 is especially advantageous when the pane (hereidentified with reference numeral 69) is particularly large. In thisembodiment, a hinge portion 70 which may be composed of rods asshown-has a hinge pivot 71 and is connected at fourlocations-corresponding to the corners of a rectangle-to respectivecompensating elements 76,77,78 and 79. Between each of the elements76-79 and the portion 70 there is located a mounting plate 72-75,respectively, and the elements 76-79 are bonded to pane 69.

In FIG. 14, a pane 80 has mounted thereto two or more (two shown)compensating elements 82,83 which are vertically spaced and, eventually,also in direction normal to the plane of the drawing. A metallicexpansion member 81 is fixed to both (or all) of the elements andprovided with an offset portion 81a. In this manner the member 81, aswell as the elements 82 and 83, can compensate for stresses. The hingeand/or latching elements (not shown) are connected to member 81.

The embodiment of FIG. has a pane 84 provided with a projection 84a. Ahinge or latching component 86 is connected to pane 84 in such a manneras to embrace the projection 84a which may, but need-not be, rib-shaped.A compensating element 85 is interposed between component 86 and pane84, and its position in conjunction with the embraced projection 84a,assures advantageous compensation, and absorption of any shear forces.

In FIG. 16, l have illustrated an embodiment based on the same principleas that of FIG. 15, except that it differs therefrom in structuralrespects. l-Iere, pane 87 is provided with a recess 87a whichaccommodates the compensating element 89. The hinge or latchingcomponent 88 is in turn connected with the element 89.

The embodiment of FIG. 17, finally, utilizes a pane 90 the marginalportion 90a of which is angled,'preferably at 90, with reference to theremainder of the pane.

Secured to the inwardly directed side of the portion 90a are one or morecompensating elements 93; additional compensating elements 92 may beprovided on the inwardly directed side of the pane so as to be locatedin a plane which is substantially at a right angle to that of element(or elements) 93. The hinge or latching component 91 extends into thechannel formed by the portion 900 and is secured to the element 93 (and92, if the latter are provided). This embodiment also provides foradvantageous distribution and compensation of shear and othersignificant forces acting between pane 90 and component 91.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in awindow or door construction, it is not intended to be limited to thedetails shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay bemade without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific features of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structure of the character described, in combination, supportmeans having an opening; at least one glass pane in said opening;mounting means mounting said pane to said support means for displacementwith reference to said opening, said mounting means comprising at leastone unit having a first section mounted directly on said pane, and asecond section mounted on said support means and connected with saidfirst section for relative displacement; and adjusting means forpermitting positional adjustment of at least one of said sections so asto at least reduce the transmission of stresses into said glass pane.

2. In a structure as defined in claim 1, said one section having aportion provided with a relatively largearea contact face in contactwith and mounted on one side of said glass pane.

3. In a structure asdefined in claim 2, wherein said contact face isadhesively mounted on said glass pane.

4. In a structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said contact face iswelded to said glass pane.

5. In a structure as defined in claim 1, one of said sections having apin and the other section having a sleeve normally surrounding said pinso that said sections together constitute a hinge; and wherein saidadjusting means comprises a spring surrounding said pin intermediatesaid sections.

6. In a structure as defined in claim 1, one of said sections having apin and the other section having a sleeve normally surrounding said pinso that said sections together constitute a hinge; and wherein saidadjusting means comprises an elastomeric cylindrical element interposedbetween said pin and sleeve so as to permit relative movement of saidsections in direction longitudinally as well as transversely of saidpin.

7. In a structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said pane is a windowpane. 1

8. In a structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said pane is a doorpane.

9. In a structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjusting meanscomprises fastening means for fastening said second section to saidsupport means in such a manner as to be adjustable relative to saidsupport means in a plurality of mutually inclined directions.

10. In a structure as defined in claim 9, said adjusting meanscomprising a mounting hole in said second section and a threadedfastener of substantially smaller cross-sectional area than saidmounting hole, extending through the latter and into said support means.

11. In a structure as defined in claim 1; and further comprisingelastically yieldable compensating means interposed between said glasspane and said first section.

12. In a structure as defined in claim 1 1, said first section having anoutline, and said compensating means comprising at least onecompensating element projecting outwardly beyond said outline and havingedge portions and a thickness which decreases outwardly in directiontowards said edge portions.

13. In a structure as defined in claim 11, said compensating meanscomprising at least two compensating elements interposed between saidfirst section and said pane, and being spaced from one another.

14. In a structure as defined in claim 13; further comprising a guiderail mounted on said compensating elements, and a slide rail slidablyguided on said guide rail, said first section being mounted on saidslide rail.

15. In a structure as defined in claim 11, said glass pane having aprojection, and said compensating means comprising at least onecompensating element embracing said projection and interposed betweenthe same and said first section.

16. In a structure as defined in claim 11, said glass pane having adepression, and said compensating means comprising at least onecompensating element accommodated in said depression and interposedbetween said glass pane and said first section.

17. In a structure of the character described, in combination, supportmeans having an opening; at least one glass pane in said opening andsubject to expansion and contraction in at least one direction; mountingmeans mounting said glass pane to said support means for displacementwith reference to said opening, said mounting means comprising at leastone unit having a first section mounted directly on said glass pane anda second section mounted on said support means and connected with saidfirst section for relative displacement in said one direction; andresilient adjusting means interposed between said sections andpermitting positional adjustment of said sections relative to oneanother in said one direction during expansion and/or contraction ofsaid glass pane so as to at least reduce the transmission of stresses tosaid glass pane.

18. In a structure of the character described, in combination, supportmeans having an opening; at least one frame-less glass pane in saidopening; a hinge mounting said glass pane in said opening and comprisinga first hinge section fixedly mounted on said support means, and acooperating second hinge section directly mounted on said glass pane;and a resilient compensating element interposed between said hingesections so as to compensate for stresses resulting from differentialthermal expansion and/or contraction of said support means and glasspane.

1. In a structure of the character described, in combination, supportmeans having an opening; at least one glass pane in said opening;mounting means mounting said pane to said support means for displacementwith reference to said opening, said mounting means comprising at leastone unit having a first section mounted directly on said pane, and asecond section mounted on said support means and connected with saidfirst section for relative displacement; and adjusting means forpermitting positional adjustment of at least one of said sections so asto at least reduce the transmission of stresses into said glass pane. 2.In a structure as defined in claim 1, said one section having a portionprovided with a relatively large-area contact face in contact with andmounted on one side of said glass pane.
 3. In a structure as defined inclaim 2, wherein said contact face is adhesively mounted on said glasspane.
 4. In a structure as defined in claim 2, wherein said contact faceis welded to said glass pane.
 5. In a structure as defined in claim 1,one of said sections having a pin and the other section having a sleevenormally surrounding said pin so that said sections together constitutea hinge; and wherein said adjusting means comprises a spring surroundingsaid pin intermediate said sections.
 6. In a structure as defined inclaim 1, one of said sections having a pin and the other section havinga sleeve normally surrounding said pin so that said sections togetherconstitute a hinge; and wherein said adjusting means comprises anelastomeric cylindrical element interposed between said pin and sleeveso as to permit relative movement of said sections in directionlongitudinally as well as transversely of said pin.
 7. In a structure asdefined in claim 1, wherein said pane is a window pane.
 8. In astructure as defined in claim 1, wherein said pane is a door pane.
 9. Ina structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said adjusting meanscomprises fastening means for fastening said second section to saidsupport means in such a manner as to be adjustable relative to saidsupport means in a plurality of mutually inclined directions.
 10. In astructure as defined in claim 9, said adjusting means comprising amounting hole in said second section and a threaded fastener ofsubstantially smaller cross-sectional area than said mounting hole,extending through the latter and into said support means.
 11. In astructure as defined in claim 1; and further comprising elasticallyyieldable compensating means interposed between said glass pane and saidfirst section.
 12. In a structure as defined in claim 11, said firstsection having an outline, and said compensating means comprising atleast one compensating element projecting outwardly beyond said outlineand having edge portions and a thickness which decreases outwardly indirection towards said edge portions.
 13. In a structure as defined inclaim 11, said compensating means comprising at least two compensatingelements interposed between said first section and said pane, and beingspaced from one another.
 14. In a structure as defined in claim 13;further comprising a guide rail mounted on said compensating elements,and a slide rail slidably guided on said guide rail, said first sectionbeing mounted on said slide rail.
 15. In a structure as defined in claim11, said glass pane having a projection, and said compensating meanscomprising at least one compensating element embracing said projectionand interposed between the same and said first section.
 16. In astructure as defined in claim 11, said glass pane having a depression,and said compensating means comprising at least one compensating elementaccommodated in said depression and interposed between said glass paneand said first section.
 17. In a structure of the character described,in combination, support means having an opening; at least one glass panein said opening and subject to expansion and contraction in at least onedirection; mounting means mounting said glass pane to said support meansfor displacement with reference to said opening, said mounting meanscomprising at least one unit having a first section mounted directly onsaid glass pane and a second section mounted on said support means andconnected with said first section for relative displacement in said onedirection; and resilient adjusting means interposed between saidsections and permitting positional adjustment of said sections relativeto one another in said one direction during expansion and/or contractionof said glass pane so as to at least reduce the transmission of stressesto said glass pane.
 18. In a structure of the character described, incombination, support means having an opening; at least one frame-lessglass pane in said opening; a hinge mounting said glass pane in saidopening and comprising a first hinge section fixedly mounted on saidsupport means, and a cooperating second hinge section directly mountedon said glass pane; and a resilient compensating element interposedbetween said hinge sections so as to compensate for stresses resultingfrom differential thermal expansion and/or contraction of said supportmeans and glass pane.